Family of veteran Labour politician say he has been in hospital for four days
and is 'currently receiving treatment'

Tony Benn, the veteran Labour campaigner and former cabinet minister, is "seriously ill" in hospital according to reports.

Mr Benn, 88, who was a MP for 50 years, has spent his fourth night in hospital on an NHS ward, his family have said.

A family spokesman said: "Tony Benn was taken to hospital on Saturday evening after feeling unwell. He is currently receiving treatment."

Mr Benn entered Parliament in November 1950 and served in the cabinet under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan. He narrowly missed out on election as Labour deputy leader in 1981 and was instrumental in the party's 1983 general election manifesto.

In 2001 Mr Benn stepped down from Parliament in order to "spend more time on politics". He became a public speaker, remains an influential figure in the Labour movement and is president of the Stop the War campaign.

His most recent public appearance was in December paying tribute to Nelson Mandela at a special event in Westminster Hall.

The Benn family has strong political ties with the Labour party. His son Hilary Benn, his son, is now Shadow Communities Secretary and his granddaughter Emily Benn stood unsuccessfully for the Labour Party in 2010. His father, William Wedgwood Benn, was a Liberal MP, a Labour Minister and later made a peer.

Mr Benn has returned from bouts of serious ill-health. before In 1990 he was given three years to live after being diagnosed with leukaemia.

He recently moved into sheltered accommodation near his home in Holland Park, London, following a stroke last year.

Following the stroke Mr Benn said that he was “not frightened about death” after suffering a stroke because the loss of his wife Carolina to cancer 14 years ago had helped him cope with the idea.

He said at the time: "I don't know why, but I just feel at a certain moment your switch is switched off and that's it. And you can't do anything about it. I think experiencing my wife's life and then death has encouraged me to feel like this."